Flatiron support



Nov. 17, 1942. A. c. BVIRCZKS 2,302,365

FLATIRON SUPPORT Filed Nov. 6, 1940 Patented Nov. 17, 194-2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLATIRON SUPPORT I Application November 6, 1940, Serial No. 364,584

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel flat-iron of the type embodying means for supporting the iron above in ironing surface whenever desired.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple device of this character in the use of which the operator has only to operate a thumb piece on the handle of the iron to latch or unlatch the support mechanism.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the latching of the support mechanism is efiected by a slidable member within the handle and the said member is actuated and is held in its latching position by a cam which is operable by the thumb piece.

A further object of the invention is to provide on a fiat-iron a support and an associated spring adapted to support the iron above the ironing surface, and means operable by a thumb piece to raise the support elements slightly above the ironing surface after theiron has been lowered onto the surface.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear later as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the iron with the support mechanism in inoperative position, showing certain portions in section for purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the iron with the supporting mechanism in its operative position;

and

Fig. .3 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of the support .mechanism.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the iron comprises a body 8 and a stationary handle 2 attached thereto. The body I is composed of the sole plate 3 and the cover 4 to which the handle is attached. A bracket 5 is attached to the rear of the sole plate and extends rearwardly from the iron as clearly illustrated. A support 6, constructed as illustrated in Fig. 3, is pivotally -mounted on a transverse rod i supported by turned up ears 8 on each side of the bracket 5.

The support 6 comprises a pair of legs 9 extending forwardly of the iron and an arm structure It extending within the hollow rear part of the handle 2. At the free end of the arm structure ID there is provided a roller H, the purpose of which will appear presently. A coil spring l2 has one end secured to the cross piece l3 on the arm structure ill by means of the adjustable screw 14 and retaining nut Ma, while the other end of the spring is secured to a turned ear or I2 'which'is under tension.

lug it on the bracket 5. Thus, the spring is arranged to effect relative movement between the iron and its pivoted support so as to move the iron to its supported position shown in Fig. 2.

When the support is in its inoperative position shown inFig. 1 the legs 9 are raised slight- 1y above the ironing surface on which the sole plate 3 rests, and in this position the legs are contracted within the body of the iron. To this end, the sole plate is cut away on each side, as. shown at I5, to accommodate the legs and to a removable cover plate 20 to permit assembly and to enable adjustment of screw 14. The rear end of member H is formed to provide a flat portion 2i .and an adjacent curved portion 22. The front end of member I1 is engageable by a cam 23 mounted on a transverse rotatable pin 24 which also carries a thumb piece 25 external to the handle'i. A stop ZGis provided on the handle 2 to limit the rotation of the thumbpiece 25 in one direction.

The partsare so designed and arranged that, when the thumbpiece 25 is in the position of Fig. I, .the lobe of cam '23 engages the front end of member I1, and the flat portion 2| of the latter engages roller H, holding the support 6 in its inoperative position against the action of spring When the thumb piece 25 is rotated to the position of Fig. 2, the

cam 23 releases member [7, rendering the same ineifective, and permitting the spring to move the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Considering the entire operation of the device and assuming that the iron is in the condition shown in Fig. l,-when the operator desires to utilize the support, the thumb piece 25 is rotated clockwise by pressing down on the rear portion thereof, thereby causing the spring [2 to firstmove the legs 9 into engagement with the ironing surface and then ,rotate the iron about the-pivot I to the position of Fig. 2. During this action the support 16' rotates'slightly counter- -portion'22 and seats in the lower'recess thereof,

as shown in Fig. 2. This latter action takes place during the tilting of the iron.

When it is desired to again use the iron, the operator presses downward on the handle 2 so as to move the iron into engagement with the ironing surface against the action of spring l2 which is thereby placed under increased tension. This downward movement of the iron is facilitated by the weight of the iron itself and requires little exertion on the part of the operation. During this action, the roller ll rides upward along curved portion 22 to a position adjacent the flat portion 2| of member ll. Having thus lowered the iron onto the ironing surface, the operator then rotates the thumb piece counter-clockwise by pressing downward on the front portion thereof, thereby causing the cam 23 to move the member ll rearward. gagement with roller ll, rotates the support slightly so as to raise the legs 9 above the ironing surface.

It is important to note that the thumb piece 25 serves two purposes. It releases the retaining member I! when the operator desires to support the iron, and it effects the slight raising of the support legs 9 above the ironing surface when it is desired to render the support inoperative and after the iron has been lowered onto the ironing surface, Thus, the operator has only to actuate the thumb piece 25 during the use of the iron as described above.

t will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the specific form of the device illustrated but is capable of various modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fiat-iron, a body, a stationary handle attached to said body, at least part of said handle being hollow, a support pivotally mounted at the rear of said body and comprising support elements extending forwardly of the iron, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, means tending to effect relative movement between the iron and the support so as to raise the iron on said support, an arm on said support extending within said handle, a retaining member slidably mounted within said handle and adapted to engage said arm, thereby to retain said support in its inoperative position against the action of said last-mentioned means, a rotatable cam within said handle for maintaining said member in efiective position, and a thumb piece on said handle for rotating said cam to its effective and ineffective positions.

2. In a flat-iron, a body having recesses therein, a handle attached to said body, a support pivotally mounted at the rear of said body and comprising support elements extending forwardly of the iron, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, said support elements receding into said body recesses and being raised above the ironing surface when said support is in its inoperative position, means tending to effect relative movement between the iron and the support so as to raise the iron on said support, a slidable member within said handle, an operating member operatively associated with said support elements and engageable by said slidable member, and means operable when the iron is lowered from its supported position onto the ironing surface, to actuate said slidable member in a direction to raise said support elements The latter, through its en-.

above said surface and retain said support in its inoperative position.

3. In a flat-iron, a body, a stationary handle attached to said body, at least part of said handle being hollow, a support pivotally mounted at the rear of said body and comprising support elements extending forwardly of the iron, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, said support elements being raised above the ironing surface when said support is in its inoperative position, means tending to effect relative movement between the iron and the support so as to raise the iron on said support, an arm on said support extending within said handle, a slidable member within said handle adapted to engage said arm and move it in a direction to. raise the support elements above said surface and means including a thumbpiece, operable when the iron is lowered from its supported position onto the ironing surface, to actuate said member in a direction to move said arm as aforesaid and thereby raise said support elements above said surface and retain said support in its inoperative position,

4. In a fiat-iron, a body, a stationary handle attached to said body, a support movably mounted on said body and adapted to engage an ironing surface, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, said support being raised above the ironing surface when said support is in its inoperative position, means tending to effect relative movement between the iron and the support so as to raise the iron on said support, an operating member operatively associated with said support, a slidable member within said handle adapted to engage said operating member and move it in a direction to raise the support above said surface, and manual means including an operating member at the forward part of said handle, operable when the iron is' lowered from its supported position onto the ironing surface, to actuate said slidable member in a direction to raise said support above said surface and retain said support in its inoperative position.

5. In a flat-iron, a body, a handle attached to said body, a support movably mounted on said body and adapted to engage an ironing surface, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, a slidable member entirely within said handle and extending longitudinally thereof, manual means for actuating said slidable member, and means operatively associated with said support and operable by said slidable member to retain the support in its inoperative position.

6. In a flat-iron, a body, a handle attached to said body, a support movably mounted on said body and adapted to engage an ironing surface, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, said support being raised above the ironing surface when in its inoperative position, a slidable member entirely within said handle, manual means for actuating said slidable member, and means operatively associated with said support and operable by said slidable member to position and retain the support in its inoperative position.

'7. In a fiat-iron, a body, a stationary handle attached to said body, a support movably mounted on said body and adapted to engage an ironing surface, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, said support being raised above the ironing surface when in its inoperative position, an operating member operatively associated with said support, a slidable member within said handle adapted to move said operating member in a direction to raise the support above said surface, and manual means including an operating member at the forward part of said handle, operable when the iron is lowered from its supported position onto the ironing surface, to actuate said slidable member in a direction to raise said support above said surface and retain said support in its inoperative position.

8. In a flat-iron, a body, a stationary handle attached to said body, a support movably mounted on said body and adapted to engage an ironing surface, whereby the iron and the support are relatively movable to render the support operative or inoperative, said support being raised above the ironing surface when in its inoperative position, a slidable member within said handle for actuating said support to its inoperative position when the iron has been lowered onto the ironing surface, cam means within said handle for actuating said member, and manual means extending exteriorly of the handle for actuating said cam means.

- ARNO C. BIRCKS. 

